18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (2024)

Lobster, Oysters, and So Much More

By

Cathy Jacobs

18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (1)

A freelance journalist and avid home cook, Cathy Jacobs has more than 10 years of food writing experience, with a focus on curating approachable menus and recipe collections.

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Updated on 11/10/22

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18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (2)

In many parts of the world, it's a tradition to serve seafood at Christmas. The most classic is the Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes, which—as the name suggests—involves a spread of seven seafood dishes.

Whether you're inspired by the cuisine of Italy, happen to live by the coast, or just enjoy ingredients from the sea, this elegant Christmas dinner menu is a fantastic way to celebrate the holiday with friends and family.

Get inspired by ideas for every course—including appetizers, salads, mains, and desserts—that work whether you'rehosting an intimate family dinner or a larger celebration. You may just make this your new annual Christmas dinner tradition!

  • 01 of 18

    Buttery Garlic Crab Bruschetta

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (3)

    Bruschetta—a popular Italian appetizer made from grilled bread drizzled with olive oil and rubbed with garlic—makes a great party starter. This wildly delicious buttery garlic crab bruschettafeatures plenty of garlic, butter, and sweet, succulentcrabmeat.

  • 02 of 18

    Flaky Biscuits

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (4)

    Flaky biscuits are fabulous for dipping into seafood chowders and soaking up sauces. This easy recipe for classic buttery biscuits is just about foolproof—you can even make a batch in just over 30 minutes.

  • 03 of 18

    Easy Butter and Herb Baked Oysters

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (5)

    Easy butter and herb baked oysters are a fancy appetizer that's sure to impress. A little lemon juice adds zing to fresh, brinybivalves in the shell, and the buttery herb crumb topping makes these starters restaurant-worthy.

  • 04 of 18

    Stuffed Mushrooms With Clams

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (6)

    These bite-sizedstuffed mushrooms with clamscall for adding minced clams to the classic combo of breadcrumbs, parsley, and garlic stuffing. They're cute, delicious, and perfect for wowing your holiday guests!

    Continue to 5 of 18 below.

  • 05 of 18

    Fried Calamari

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (7)

    Fried calamariis one of the tastiest and most popular of Italian seafood appetizers. In an impressive first course, rings of tender squid are battered, fried until golden and crispy, and served with sea salt and lemon wedges for squeezing.

  • 06 of 18

    Fennel, Grapefruit and Arugula Salad

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (8)

    This bright, refreshing fennel, grapefruit and arugula salad has a unique mix of flavors and textures that pair exceptionally well with seafood. Juicy, sweet-tart grapefruit is balanced by peppery arugula, creamy avocado, and crisp, aromatic fennel,all tossed in a super simple olive oil and grapefruit juice dressing.

  • 07 of 18

    Kale Salad With Grated Cheese and Lemon Dressing

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (9)

    Dark, leafy greens are wonderful for enjoying in winter salads. In this simple, yet elegant kale salad with grated cheese and lemon dressing, thinly-sliced raw kalecombines with walnut and oliveoils, plus Parmesan cheese for a light first course that's a great way to kick off an indulgent Christmas meal.

  • 08 of 18

    Pear and Greens Salad

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (10)

    Late fall and winter are ideal seasons for sweet and juicy pears, and this restaurant-worthy pear and greens saladis a great way to use the fruit at its peak. You'll love the combination of tender pears, slightly bitter greens, blue cheese, and toasted walnuts in a sweet celery-seed vinaigrette.

    Continue to 9 of 18 below.

  • 09 of 18

    Crispy Garlic Parmesan Croutons

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (11)

    Making your own croutons can upgrade everything from salads to creamy chowders. This easy crispy parmesan croutons recipe was created to garnish a Caesar salad, but it's fantastic for finishingseafood stews, too.

  • 10 of 18

    Lobster Bisque

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (12)

    A rich and creamy lobster bisqueis sure to earn rave reviews. The aromatic stew is a special-occasion bowl that can be served in small portions as a fancy first course at Christmas dinner.

  • 11 of 18

    Crock Pot Fisherman's Stew (Cioppino)

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (13)

    Crockpot fisherman's stew (Cioppino), a hearty Italian stew brimming with both shellfish and fish, is ideal for serving as an entree. Using yourslow cookerresults in tender seafood and a deep, complex broth without taking up any precious stovetop space.

  • 12 of 18

    Italian-Style Whole Roasted Fish in Herbs

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (14)

    Wow your guests when you come out of the kitchen carrying an Italian-style whole roasted fish in herbs on a platter (just like they do at special meals in Italy!). This fish entree is surprisingly easy to make and it never fails to impress.

    Continue to 13 of 18 below.

  • 13 of 18

    Pan Seared Halibut WIth Wine Sauce

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (15)

    Halibut is a meaty fish that takes on an incredible flavor when it's seared. This pan-seared halibut recipe with red wine sauce is satisfying, yet light at the same time. The sauce can be made aheadand refrigerated in an airtight container.

  • 14 of 18

    Shrimp Scampi

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (16)

    Shrimp scampiis a belovedItalian-American dish. Fresh, garlicky shrimp in white wine sauce is as quick and easy to make as they are enticing to a crowd. Serve with hot cooked pasta for a great entree idea at your Christmas seafood dinner.

  • 15 of 18

    Pasta With Garlic and Cheese

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (17)

    Teeming with garlic and cheese, this seven-ingredient (five if you don't count salt and pepper) pasta recipe can be used as a base for shrimp scampi, or an elegant side that pairs well with roasted or pan-seared fish. Serve this pasta with garlic and cheese with a nice green salad.

  • 16 of 18

    Roasted Broccoli Rabe

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (18)

    Broccoli rabe, also called rapini,takes on a deeper flavor and a pleasantly crispy texture when roasted. Serve the tender, browned stalks as a side dish for cooked fish dishes. You can also sprinkle this roasted broccoli rabe atop seafood chowders and soups for added texture.

    Continue to 17 of 18 below.

  • 17 of 18

    Maple Glazed Roast Parsnips

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (19)

    Roasted parsnips have a naturally sweet flavor that is welcome at a holiday dinner. A simple glaze made with maple syrup gives this nutritious vegetable side dish a tempting golden brown color. Sesame seeds are sprinkled over the top of these maple-glazed roast parsnips for the last five minutes of baking, for added crunch and visual interest.

  • 18 of 18

    Easy Orange Liqueur Cake

    18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (20)

    Citrus is an ideal complement to seafood and this easy orange liqueur cake is packed with fruity, boozy flavor and finished with a delectable buttery orange glaze.

18 Christmas Seafood Recipes Fit for a Special Holiday Feast (2024)

FAQs

What seafood is often eaten at Christmas? ›

Baccalà (Salted Cod) – Often served fried or in a stew. Here on Florida's Gulf Coast this is often substituted for Grouper or another more local white fish delicacy. Calamari (Squid) – Typically fried or stuffed. Gamberi (Shrimp) – Can be grilled, sautéed, or served in a co*cktail.

What are 3 food items that are popular for Christmas dinner? ›

They cover the savory side of Christmas dinner, from prime rib, baked ham, and roast turkey to scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce.

What are the top 10 Christmas foods? ›

10 Most Popular Christmas Dishes
  1. Roasted turkey. No Christmas dinner is complete without roast turkey. ...
  2. Ham. Be it baked, smoked, or glazed, ham is another popular dish for Christmas dinner. ...
  3. Roast beef. ...
  4. Stuffing. ...
  5. Poultry. ...
  6. Sweet potato casserole. ...
  7. Cranberry sauce. ...
  8. Plum pudding.
Dec 11, 2023

What is a traditional Christmas dinner menu? ›

Traditional Christmas foods are very similar to Thanksgiving and consists of roast turkey, turkey stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce and pies such as apple or pumpkin. Other non-traditional main dish favorites are ham, roast beef or lasagna.

What is the best fish to eat in December? ›

December is the peak season for ocean perch, and there is no better month to enjoy cod and monkfish. The yuletide season is also the perfect time for cooking up fresh oysters, clams, and scallops. Below, find recipes and other information on these shellfish and fish to expect at the market in December.

What is the most popular food eaten on Christmas Day? ›

Every family in every part of the world serves their own traditional Christmas foods, but in the U.S., some are enjoyed nationwide:
  • Turkey.
  • Prime Rib.
  • Baked Ham.
  • Mashed Potatoes & Gravy.
  • Stuffing.
  • Green Bean Casserole.
  • Candied Sweet Potatoes.
  • Roasted Vegetables.
Dec 21, 2023

What do you serve a crowd for Christmas dinner? ›

Feed a Crowd With These Christmas Dinner Menu Ideas
  1. 02 of 20. Baked Brie with Quebec Maple Syrup. View Recipe. ...
  2. 05 of 20. Cranberry Dip. View Recipe. ...
  3. 08 of 20. Broccoli Cheese Bake. View Recipe. ...
  4. 11 of 20. A Simply Perfect Roast Turkey. ...
  5. 14 of 20. Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions. ...
  6. 17 of 20. Best Toffee Ever - Super Easy.
Oct 13, 2020

What is the least popular Christmas food? ›

Across all states, their findings showed that the least popular Christmas foods are persimmon pudding (13%) and fruitcake (25%).

What foods are Christmassy? ›

Candy Cane can be hung as edible decorations.
  • White Christmas, a sweet slice made of copha and mixed fruit.
  • Cold ham and cold turkey.
  • Seafood and salads.
  • Roast chicken, ham and turkey.
  • Stuffing.
  • Christmas cake or Christmas pudding.
  • Custard.
  • Gingerbread in Christmas shapes.

What foods do Mexicans eat on Christmas? ›

Mexican Christmas food spans enchiladas, pozole, tamales, and plenty of desserts. These are our favorite recipes for flavorful versions of those dishes from Mexican chefs, along with a few festive drinks. Start a tamale making tradition, warm up with pozole this winter, and enjoy enchiladas everyone will love.

What veg do you have with a Christmas dinner? ›

Discover the perfect amounts of potatoes, carrots, parsnips, sprouts, peas and red cabbage to serve with your roast turkey. Need help planning your Christmas dinner?

What is the most popular Christmas meat? ›

Turkey is definitely the most traditional meat for Christmas dinner and you can take a look at our wide selection of whole, rolled and diced turkeys here – perfect for your traditional Christmas dinner!

What seafood is in season in December? ›

Oysters: Like clams, oysters tend to be at their best in months with the letter R in their names: September through April. Scallops: These shellfish are available year-round, but typically peak from December through March.

Do you eat seafood on Christmas? ›

While this may seem out of the normal, many generations of Italian-American families have practiced the Christmas tradition of serving fish as families gather together. But the good news is seafood recipes are not limited to just the Italian classics.

What is the tradition of seafood on Christmas Eve? ›

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian-American tradition to ring in Christmas Eve, when Roman Catholics celebrate the midnight birth of Jesus, known in Italian as “La Viglia.” Fish is a traditional ingredient in the Christmas Eve dinner because custom calls for the eschewing of red meat leading up to the holiday.

Why is seafood popular at Christmas? ›

The tradition of preparing fish on Christmas Eve originated from the Catholic rituals of fasting or abstaining from meat and other dairy products on the eve of certain holy days, including Christmas. As no meat could be consumed during this period, fish cooked in oil would be eaten instead of meat.

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